The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1887-08-18
Mr.. Barbour as an Issue.

within its own ranks, as to denounce MA
hone" and what they are pleased to call
s'Mahoneism. They know they cannot
conduct a rational, legitimate campaign
with any hope Of success. The efforts OF
their speakers and writers will be to avoid
this. and seek to arouse resentment against
Gen. Malone, as the settled candidate of
the Republicans and the heir apparent to
Riddleberger seat. But this they will
not be permitted to do. The Republicans
are not committedsto Gen. Malone or any
one else for the Senatorship, and they do
not propose to allow the canvass to be
made on that line so far as they are con-
cerned. The candidates of the party for
the Legislature will be generally nomi-
mated and supported primarily with refer
ence to the issues relating to State admin
istration Matters affecting the condl-
tions of the Commonwea It'll and therelief
of the people will command the attention
of the next Legislature, and men should
be voted for and elected as expressive OF
the popular will in relation to them.
Should the Republicans elect majority OF
the Legislature it will be time enough for
an unpledged and independent Republican
delegation to consider the SenatOrShip. 1t
will not be proper to consider it before,
aud this we believe is the view OF every
intelligent Republican with whom we have
conversed or correspondent. Neither MA
hone'' nor "Mahoneism" will be an is
sue. and no amount of clamor and as
sertion of the Democratic leaders can
make it so, when the Republicans deter
| mine to the contrary.
But the Roanoke Convention did make
an ISSUE and that was "Barbourism. q
Hon. John S. Barbour is an aspirant for
the Senatorship. He is the unchallenged
boss of the Democratic party. He was
boss of the Roanoke Convention. He was
practically the Convention itself, and the
canvass will be shaped to elect members
of the Legislature who viii vote for him
| for Senator, regardless Of any and all is
sues of State interest. In this view OF
the situation, it is pertinent to inquire
what claims Mr.. Barbour has upon the
State of Virginia that every other interest
should be subordinated to his ambition.
Notwithstanding his six years service in
the Congress of the United States, he can
not point to single important legislative
measure with which his name is identified
as It's author. He cannot point to sin
gle idea or suggestion that has been i'm
pressed upon the public mind as promo
tive of the public welfare, and originate
ing with him, as result of his three
terms in Congress. Whatever may have
been his views of public questions they
were absorbed in the action OF the eau
Gus of his party and his influence and
votes given in direction hostile to the
interests of his people. He is recorded
for Carlisle for Speaker, knowing that he
was opposed to the policy of the indus
trial development of the South. His vote
was cast for him. knowing that he was an
enemy of the Blair educational bill. Upon
the tariff and popular education his record
is against the resolves of the Convention
which recognized Mr.. BarbOur's supreme
authority at Roanoke. Whatever the neces-
stiles of his party may have forced him to
declare in the recently adopted platform, his
record in Congress, where he had the OppOr-
tunity to give practical expression to his
opinions and impress them upon legisla-
tion, is in direct conflict with the repeal
| of the internal revenue laws, national aid
| TO popular education, and protection to
home industries and home labor. He stood
| with his party on these questions in Con-
eress. and it is to that record the people
should look and on it pass Judgment and
not TO the deceptive resolves of a Conven-
ton driven to the necessity Of stultifying
the party in order to win popular favor,
with not the slightest purpose OF ever
giving them practical enforcement. But
Mr., Barbour's political acts and record,
boiled down, and what is in them, as it
relates to legislation, which should COM
mend him to the people of Virginia. or
influence their votes to his eXaltation ?
Mr.. Barbour is a gentleman whose perso-
nal character is above reproach. He knows
what the amenities of public and private
life are, and observes them as gentleman
should. AS railroad president he admin
istered the trust confided with ability and
success. This much can be said of him
with impartial justice. But when We
come to consider his legislative action and
his political identifcati0ns, We can find
nothing in them that elevateS him above
the common plane of party managers and
manipulators, more considerate of parti-
IAN ends than the good of the people. His
success as chairman of the Democratic
State Committee. in conducting the con-
tests of his party, has resulted in unmixed
evil to his State. lie found every condi-
tion of the Commonwealth relating to the
peoples practical interests encouraging.
The treasury was well supplied with
moneys-the coupons had been arrested in
their fatal work of absorbing the reve-
nues-the public schools were healthy, the
charitable institutions restored to the con-
dition designed in their establishment,
dflU HI tfcI ICopCCo pfAO ouotoOtA "tso E'AOiAi
ising. What is their condition to-day,
after four years of Democratic control !?
To ask the question is to answer it. Eve
ry one knows the strifes and costly contenr
tions that are going on in the courts over
the coupons; the embarrassments of the
people: the distrust which prevails at
home and abroad, and the doubts and mis-
givings which meet the people when they
glance at the future. 1t is record that
does not commend itself to the support
and endorsement of the voters and tax
payers of the State, nor will they endorse
it, if the rea facts pertinent to the can
vass are kept before them. Mr.. Barbour.
as an issue, will not bea success, no more
than Gen. Malone, as an issue, would be
a success. The Democrats have made the
one. The Republicans have not made an
issue of the other. 1t is whether John
S. Barbour is greater than the State and
more important than practical and salts
factory adjustment of the debt compiled
tions-than the proper maintenance OF the
public schools; the relief of the people
fr0m.the revenue tax; the development OF
our natural resources and the progress and
of Virginia. 1t will be for the